Encyclopedia of Tea

PRODUCT OFFERINGS

Q - What is Black tea?
A - Black teas are those teas whose leaves are allowed to fully oxidize before they are dried. Black teas are the most popular type of tea in the Western world today. Rich in polyphenols, several varieties are frequently blended together to create now famous blends (Breakfast, Earl Grey to name a few).

Q - What is Oolong tea?
A - It is allowed to partially oxidize before drying. Its oxidation level falls between green and black tea. Most oolong teas have complex and sometimes fruity flavors and floral bouquets.

Q - What is Herbal tea?
A - Also known as infusions or tisanes these consist of dried flowers and leaves of plants other than Camellia Sinensis and are not truly "teas". Herbal tinfusions can also be made using fresh flowers, herbs, seeds, roots and bark. Some herbal teas are flavored with fruit, or essential oils and various spices.

Q - What is White tea?
A - White teas are the least processed of all teas.  They are essentially plucked, carefully handled and dried.  White teas are known for their subtle and sweet flavors. 

Q - What is a "green" tea?
A - A tea is defined as a green tea if the leaf has been protected from oxidation. Leaves are plucked and then carefully transported to the factory for processing which includes: withering, rolling, drying (and no bruising or time between rolling and drying, for oxidation).

Q - Where in China is the leaf we normally use in our iced tea products grown?
A - Most of the leaf is from the Hunan and Yunnan provinces, famous for their teas as well as their spicy foods and beautiful women. Much of our leaf is grown around the 2-3000 ft elevation level in old gardens on bushes 20-45 years in age. Most workers are drawn from local villages and well paid for their services, many are skilled in production as well as plucking experts. It is beautifully hilly country rich in both tea and food traditions. High mountains loom overhead and the air is clear. The people there do not drink iced teas and, in fact, don't have the availability of ice. They think our tea drinking habits are odd but like that fact that we utilize their teas.

Q - What is Rooibos?
A - Rooibos is a natural herb that is unique to the South African Cedarburg Mountains. Rooibos is naturally caffeine-free and abounds in the minerals copper, iron and potassium, calcium, fluoride, zinc, manganese, alpha- hydroxyl and magnesium.

Q - What is Fair Trade®?
A - Fair Trade is an innovative, market-based approach to sustainable development. Fair Trade helps family farmers in developing countries to gain direct access to international markets, as well as to develop the business capacity necessary to compete in the global marketplace. By learning how to market their own harvests, Fair Trade farmers are able to bootstrap their own businesses and receive a fair price for their products. This leads to higher family living standards, thriving communities and more sustainable farming practices. Fair Trade empowers farming families to take care of themselves - without developing dependency on foreign aid.

Q - What is Certified Organic?
A - Organic is defined as "an ecological production management system that promotes and enhances biodiversity, biological cycles and soil biological activity. It is based on minimal use of off-farm inputs and on management practices that restore, maintain and enhance ecological activity." Before a product can be labeled "organic," a Government-approved certifier inspects the farm where the food is grown to make sure the farmer is following all of the rules necessary to meet USDA organic standards. Companies that handle or process organic food before it gets to your local supermarket or restaurant must be certified, too.

Q - Do organic teas taste better than non-organic teas?
A - If a tea garden is organic by default, meaning that it has become organic simply because the owners could not afford fertilizers and pesticides, often the flavor of the teas produced will be inferior to a healthy estates non-organic offerings. However - if an estate chooses to convert to organic and has the laborers and the means to care for the estate in a manner that includes good organic farming techniques, the teas will often have a richer and fuller cup potential, sweeter as well.


Top of Page


SERVING

Q - How much tea will one Leaves Sachet make?
A - Ideally, our Sachets will steep an 18-ounce pot of tea.

Q - Does a lime wedge work well as an alternative garnish?
A - No, limejuice clouds iced tea. If you are looking for an alternative garnish, try an orange slice or a strawberry or a wedge of exotic fruit such as mango, pineapple or even star fruit.

Q - Why doesn't the China Mist I make at home taste the same as it does in my favorite restaurant?
A - The truth of the matter is that we can control all of the variables involved in making great iced tea in a food service establishment. Everything from the type of tea, cleanliness of the equipment, brewing method, water temperature and water quality are consistently monitored and controlled in a food service operation. When we sell tea for home use all we control is the quality of the tea. If the tea is brewed too long or not long enough it can be weak or bitter. Too much chlorine in the water and the tea will smell and taste bad. If the water for the tea and ice is too hard, it can cloud the tea.


Top of Page


GENERAL

Q - How was iced tea invented?
A - At the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition, in St Louis, Missouri, an Englishman by the name of Richard Blechynden was hired by an association of India tea growers to promote their teas. Unfortunately, the weather was so hot, that there was very little interest in hot teas. Frustrated, Mr. Blechynden poured the black tea over ice to induce people to try it and the rest is history.

Q - How much tea is consumed around the world?
A - After water, tea is the second-most-consumed beverage in the world.

Q - What countries consume the most tea?
A - Ireland has the highest per-capita consumption of tea in the world - about 3.83 cups per person per day. Kuwait is second, at 3.21 cups per person per day.

Q - Do Americans consume a lot of tea compared to the rest of the world?
A - Not really. The United States rates near the bottom of the list, consuming about a half cup per person per day. 80% of the tea consumed in the US is served as iced tea.

Top of Page


PURCHASING

Q - What is your standard delivery time?
A - Order usually arrives within 7-10 business days (for in-stock items only).

Q - What are your shipping and handling costs?
A - Domestic charges:

      Items $0 - $25.00 is $5.95

      Items $25.01 - $50.00 is $6.95

      Items $50.01 -  $75.00 is $8.95

      Items $75.01 - $100.00 is $10.95

      Items $100.00 and over is FREE!

      Next day shipping - add $30.00

      2nd day shipping - add $20.00

Shipments to Post Office Boxes will be charged actual postage rates.  To ship to a P.O. Box, please call 800.242.8807 and place your order with our Retail Specialist. The Retail Specialist will confirm your order with actual shipping charges for all P.O. Box orders.  

Q - What  is your express delivery time?
A - Next Business Day Express is $30 additional to Standard Shipping and Handling charges. Next business day delivery for orders placed by 3 P.M. EST Monday-Friday.Allow one additional day for Hawaii and Alaska.  Available for in-stock items only. Not available for P.O. Boxes or APO/FPO addresses. All orders are subject to verification.

Q - What about 2nd Day Express?
A - Add $20.00 to Standard Shipping and Handling Charges.Delivery within 2 business days for orders placed by 3 P.M. EST Monday-Friday.

Q - Does China Mist Brands ship internationally?
A -Please call to inquire about International delivery at 1-800-242-8807.  Order usually arrives within 14-21 business days (for in-stock items only) after the shipping date.

Q - What is the return policy for China MIst Brands?
A - We stand by our reputation for quality and excellent value. If for any reason you are dissatisfied with a purchase, we'll assist you with a prompt refund or exchange at our discretion. The original shipping and handling charges are not refundable unless it was it was a China Mist Brands fault.

OUR COMMITMENT TO PRIVACY

Q - What is China Mist Brands' Privacy Policy?

A - China Mist Brands values our customers and respects your privacy. We collect information about you in our stores and through our websites in an effort to improve your shopping experience and to communicate with you about our products, services, contests and promotions. We do not sell or rent your personal information to third parties.

OUR COMMITMENT TO SECURITY

Q - What is China Mist Brands' Security Policy?
The Personal Customer Information you provide -- including your credit card information -- to create and access an account with us and to make purchases from us (whether or not you use an account) is secured using industry standard e-commerce security technology such as Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption technology. We use this SSL technology to prevent such information from being intercepted and read as it is transmitted over the Internet. The encrypted credit card information goes directly to our third-party credit card processor's secure site. Your credit card information in not stored on the China Mist Brands site.